One of the most prevalent issues people face throughout the winter is dry eyes. The surface of the eye is primarily made of water which loses moisture because of dry winter air. Dry eyes can not produce tears as effectively, which makes your eyes prone to infections. Continue reading to learn how to minimize dry eye effects and moisten your eyes.
Taking Care of Your Eyes During Winter
It would be best for your eyes if you take care of them and follow some winter eye care tips; we will discuss them below.
Use Eye Lubricants
Your eyes get dry and itchy due to the cold and dry weather. Apply lubricating or moisturizing eye drops to keep your eyes moist. Your optometrist or pharmacist can quickly provide you with these drops or ointments.
Some of these lubricants create tears in your eyes to keep them moist. It is best to consult your optometrist to suggest the best eye drop for your needs to prevent dryness.
Stay Hydrated
You should, first and foremost, keep yourself hydrated. This entails incorporating sufficient water and other liquids, like green tea and lemon water, in your diet, which will hydrate your body and your eyes. It would be beneficial for you to avoid excessive caffeine consumption, such as coffee and tea, which can cause dehydration.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Be sure to consume a diet high in green, leafy vegetables. You should also consume foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, and mackerel), flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and plant oils are foods you should consider during winter.
Wear Eye Protection
Make sure you wear your sunglasses when you go out. The air is cold and dry and can affect your eyes badly. You should wear eye protection spectacles in winter to avoid further complications.
Use a Humidifier
We all want to heat up in the winter, but doing so can irritate and dry out your eyes. However, heaters and radiators remove moisture from the air, which leaves nothing to moisten your eyes.
Using a humidifier will assist in regulating airflow and add more moisture to the air, which is a fantastic approach to combat the issues caused by heated indoor air.
Reduce Screen Time
We enjoy staying warm in our homes throughout the winter and amusing ourselves with our electronic devices. Long periods spent staring at digital devices can wear down your eyes and give you headaches. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from your screen by looking at something 20 feet away. Use this 20:20:20 rule not only during winter but throughout the year to maintain healthy eyes.
Healthy Eyes During Winter Time
The winter season brings cold and dry air, which can irritate your eyes. You must take precautions to care for your eyes during this harsh season and prevent them from drying out.
If you have any questions or concerns about your vision this winter, contact the eye care team at Total Focus Optometry in Edmonton!
